A woman drove across a railway level crossing as the barriers started to come down.

The incident at Ffairfach in Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire occurred on April 20 and was described as a “lapse of judgment” by the defence at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

It followed another incident involving another driver the previous month at the same crossing.

Julie Lloyd of Pontardulais Road, Tycroes, Ammanford, pleaded guilty to failing to adhering to follow a traffic control signal - namely the light signals at the level crossing warning drivers of the barriers being lowered.

Prosecutor Helen Edwards said 56 year old Lloyd had approached the crossing and continued to travel over it despite the signal lights flashing.

Adding: “She was driving a Mazda and the signals were flashing red.

"She didn’t stop and continued just as the barriers began to lower.”

The railway crossing at Ffairfach, Llandeilo has seen two incidents this year of drivers going over the crossing when they shouldn't have (Image: Google)

Laura Sherwood in defence said Lloyd did not have sufficient time to react to the lights as they started flashing.

“She was already at the crossing when the lights began and she didn’t have enough time to stop.

“It was, she accepts, a lapse in judgement.

“My client has held a driving license for some 30 years and it is a clean licence.

“She relies on her car as she is a carer for her husband.

Magistrates fined Lloyd £40 for the offence, along with £85 court costs and a £30 victim surcharge.